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Three reasons why smoking in your car is a bad idea
Whether we acknowledge it or not, many UK workers spend a large amount of time in their cars, not just taxi drivers but most workers who commute to and from work. With many people’s commutes taking up to an hour or longer it’s inevitable that many smokers will feel the urge to light up a cigarette, especially if they’re stuck in a traffic jam.
The thing is that smoking whilst driving can be very dangerous or costly for you in the future and the advice coming from most is to simply not smoke whilst driving.
1. It is dangerous and could cause a fire.
Obviously cigarettes burn and so straight away when you’re driving a car that runs on highly flammable petrol or diesel it is better to be safe than sorry. Obviously smoking at the petrol station is banned and for good reason with drips and pools of fuel often found on the forecourt.
Also if you were to drop a lighter or lit cigarette on to any upholstery then it is likely to leave a mark making your car not look very clean.
2. It can make your car smell/discolour fabric
Non-smokers will agree that smoking stinks, the odour left by cigarette smoke is tough to wash out of clothing in a washing machine but with car interiors that can’t be easily removed and washed means the smell may be stuck there, or masked by an equally overpowering air freshener.
If you own a car for a considerable number of years eventually the interior is going to discolour, whites turn a horrible yellow colour and can be very costly to get fully cleaned which will normally need a professional car valet service in order to remove the discolouring and the odour.
3. It can affect the vehicle’s value when trying to sell
A car’s value is often determined by its condition as well as its actual stats; people looking for a used car will be after a car that looks relatively new and well cared for. A smokers’ car won’t be as attractive due to the smell, as well as the aforementioned discolouration and any cigarette burns.
The value of this car could drop significantly as the buyer may say the will have to spend more money on refurbishing or cleaning and so could ask for money to be knocked off the asking price.
Even smokers wouldn’t buy most cars that have been owned by a smoker as they just wouldn’t like the appearance and general experience of driving a car that smells bad and looks worn.
There is also the safety side to be concerned about where taking your eyes off the road to light a cigarette which could cause a crash or an accident. Plus courtesy should be paid to your passengers, especially if you have children on board as passive smoking can cause health issues for non-smokers.
In general it’s not good for the car almost as much as it’s not good for you and the people around you to smoke so it’s best to leave it until you arrive at your destination, providing it’s safe and legal to do so.
Phil Adams-Wright writes regularly for various motoring subjects such as: Car maintenance, Car finance and used car loans
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US $4,995.00
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US $4,995.00
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